Funding to support independent-minded researchers to explore and present original research ideas which take new approaches, and suggest new solutions, to real world social problems.
Research should be innovative and break with existing explanatory frameworks so as to address afresh empirical problems with no currently adequate theory or investigative methodology.
Projects ranging across the breadth of the social scientific disciplines and interdisciplinary research fields are welcome, and relevant applications from scholars working within the humanities are also encouraged.
ELIGIBILITY
Candidates should be within 10 years of PhD award at the time of application.
Applicants will normally hold a full-time or part-time salaried position (which may be permanent or fixed-term) at an Institution of Higher Education and Research.
Applicants may apply without prejudice to other funding bodies. If applications for identical projects were successful it would be expected that only one award (i.e. either the ISRF or another) would be accepted.
VALUE AND DURATION
Awards are worth up to £67,500 to provide full relief from all teaching duties and all associated academic administration for a period of (up to) one year.
Within that sum, reasonable support for research expenses may be considered on a matched-funding basis with the host Institution. Where home institutions are unable to comply with the matched-funding requirement for research expenses, applications will still be considered – an explanatory note from the relevant Head of School/Head of Department/Research Manager should be submitted as an attachment. Note also that applications without any research expenses component are also accepted.
KEY DATES
Deadline: 14 February 2025 (applicants are strongly advised to submit applications well in advance of the deadline)
Awards must commence no later than the end of January 2026
Further information, including details on eligible research and to apply, can be found on the opportunity webpage.